In his letter to the Philippians, Paul expresses great affection for his readers. Greek letters conventionally begin with a thanksgiving for the recipient, and Paul expands and Christianises this standard opening. Paul’s is not just human warmth, as towards a good friend. This is thankfulness to God for the results of his work among the believers (v 6). Paul thanks God regularly for them and rejoices for two key reasons.

First, they share in Paul’s gospel ministry as he travels around the Greek and Roman world planting and establishing new churches (v 5). This certainly includes their praying for his work (1:19), and they also support him financially (4:14–18). Their money frees Paul from having to work to support himself, as he did in Corinth until Timothy brought the Philippians’ gift for him (Acts 18:1–5).

Secondly, Paul is confident that God will finish the work he has started in the Philippians’ lives (v 6). The God Paul serves does not do half measures: when God starts a job, he carries through to completion. Paul looks forward with anticipation and confidence to ‘the day of Christ Jesus’, when Jesus returns to earth and finally and fully transforms believers to be the people he wants them to be (see 3:20,21).